Voice command system and voice command method

ABSTRACT

A voice command system according to a first disclosure comprises a gateway apparatus having an interface configured to receive a voice command, and a controller configured to perform a registration process of registering a speaker permitted to receive the voice command. The controller is configured to perform an authentication process of rejecting a reception of the voice command when a speaker of the voice command is not registered, and permitting a reception of the voice command when a speaker of the voice command is registered. The controller is configured to perform the authentication process for each voice command.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/651,349 filed on Mar. 27, 2020, which is the U.S. nationalstage of International Application No. PCT/JP2018/035687 filed on Sep.26, 2018, which claims the benefit of priority from the prior JapanesePatent. Application No. 2017-188264, filed on Sep. 28, 2017, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a voice command system and a voicecommand method.

BACKGROUND ART

There has been proposed a navigation system that displays various piecesof guidance information on a mobile terminal in maintenance of anequipment (for example, Patent Literature 1).

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: Japanese application publication No. 2012-256276

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A voice command system according to a first disclosure comprises agateway apparatus having an interface configured to receive a voicecommand. The voice command system comprises a controller configured toperform a registration process of registering a speaker permitted toreceive the voice command. The controller is configured to perform anauthentication process of rejecting a reception of the voice commandwhen a speaker of the voice command is not registered, and permitting areception of the voice command when a speaker of the voice command isregistered. The controller is configured to perform the authenticationprocess for each voice command.

A voice command method according to a second disclosure comprises a stepA of receiving a voice command, a step B of performing a registrationprocess of registering a speaker permitted to receive the voice command,and a step C of performing an authentication process of rejecting areception of the voice command when a speaker of the voice command isnot registered, and permitting a reception of the voice command when aspeaker of the voice command is registered. The step C is performed foreach voice command.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a voice command system 100 according toan embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an equipment management apparatus 200according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in afirst DB 211 according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in asecond DB 212 according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in athird DB 213 according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a gateway apparatus 330 according to anembodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a voice command method according to anembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a voice command method according to anembodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a voice command method according to anembodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In recent years, the gateway apparatus provided with a user interfacesuch as a voice input interface have been receiving attention. Usingsuch a gateway apparatus, it is conceivable to improve user convenienceby supporting an installation, an inspection and a use of the equipment.However, since the gateway apparatus receives voice commands of aplurality of speakers existing near the gateway apparatus, it may not bepossible to properly support the installation, the inspection, and theuse of the equipment.

The present disclosure provides a voice command system and a voicecommand method that can appropriately support the installation, theinspection, the use, and the like of the equipment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to drawings.In the following description of drawings, the same or similar parts aredenoted by the same or similar symbols.

However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and thatdimensional ratios, etc. thereof are different from real ones.Therefore, specific dimensions, etc. should be determined inconsideration of the following description. As a matter of course, thedrawings include the parts at which mutual dimensional relations orratios are different from one another.

Embodiment

(Voice Command System)

Hereinafter, a voice command system according to the embodiment will bedescribed. As illustrated in FIG. 1 , the voice command system 100 hasan equipment management apparatus 200, facilities 300, a contractorterminal 400, and an external server 500. In FIG. 1 , as the facilities300, a facility 300A to a facility 300C are shown as examples. Theequipment management apparatus 200, the facilities 300, the contractorterminal 400, and the external server 500 are connected to a network120. The network 120 is only required to provide lines between theequipment management apparatus 200 and the facilities 300, a linebetween the equipment management apparatus 200 and the contractorterminal 400, and lines between the facilities 300 and the externalserver 500. For example, the network 120 is the Internet. The network120 may provide a dedicated line such as a virtual private network(VPN).

The equipment management apparatus 200 manages equipment provided at thefacilities 300. Details of the equipment management apparatus 200 willbe described later (see FIG. 2 ).

The facility 300 has the equipment 310, an energy management system(EMS) 320, and a gateway apparatus 330. The equipment 310 is connectedto a power grid 110. The equipment 310 may be a power generationequipment. The power generation equipment may be an equipment whichgenerates power by using natural energy such as solar light, wind power,or geothermal heat. The power generation equipment may be a fuel cellapparatus. The equipment 310 may be a storage battery apparatus. Theequipment 310 may be a load equipment, which consumes power. The loadequipment may be an air-conditioning equipment or a lighting equipment.The facility 300 may have the equipment 310 of two or more types.

The EMS 320 is an apparatus (EMS: Energy Management System), whichmanages power information indicating power in the facility 300. Thepower in the facility 300 is the power which flows in the facility 300,the power bought by the facility 300, or the power sold by the facility300.

The gateway apparatus 330 has an interface, which receives voicecommands to operate the equipment 310. The interface includes a soundinput interface. The interface may include a sound output interface. Theinterface may include a button input interface. The interface mayinclude a touch-panel input interface. The interface may include agesture input interface. A gesture is, for example, an action such aswaving the hand toward a camera, which is owned by the interface. Theinterface may include an image output interface. The gateway apparatus330 has an Artificial Intelligence (AI) function, and the AI functionhas a function to analyze voice commands and carries out various actionsbased on analysis results of the voice commands. The various actions mayinclude an action of acquiring information from a server connected viathe network 120 and may include an action of outputting informationacquired from the server connected via the network 120. The server maybe the equipment management apparatus 200 or may be the external server500. The various actions may include an action of transmitting a controlcommand based on a voice command or may include an action of receiving aresponse command for a control command. The gateway apparatus 330 maytransmit the control command to the equipment 310 via the EMS 320 or maytransmit the control command to the equipment 310 without theintermediation of the EMS 320. The gateway apparatus 330 may be called asmart speaker or AI.

Herein, the gateway apparatus 330 may transmit the information, which iscollected by the gateway apparatus 330, to the external server 500. Theinformation, which is collected by the gateway apparatus 330, may beanalysis results of voice commands or may be the information acquiredfrom the equipment management apparatus 200.

The contractor terminal 400 may be a terminal which belongs to acontractor that carries out maintenance of the equipment 310. Examplesof the maintenance include: a checkup of examining the deteriorationstate of the equipment, upkeep of carrying out simple services duringthe checkup, repair of fixing problems of the equipment to recover theoriginally installed state of the functions and performance of theequipment, and replacement of exchanging the existing equipment for anew equipment.

Herein, the voice command system 100 may have a power management server.For example, the power management server transmits, to the facility 300,a power-flow control message which requests control of the amount of thepower flow from the power grid 110 to the facility 300, areverse-power-flow control message which requests control of the amountof the reverse power flow from the facility 300 to the power grid 110, apower source control message which requests control of the equipment 310(distributed power supply) provided in the facility 300, and so on.

The external server 500 may be a server which provides a search enginefor searching for required information based on the analysis result ofthe voice command. The external server 500 may be a server run by anentity, which provides the gateway apparatus 330. The external server500 may manage the information, which is collected by the gatewayapparatus 330, as big data and utilize the managed big data as theinformation for improving convenience of users.

(Equipment Management Apparatus)

Hereinafter, the equipment management apparatus according to theembodiment will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the equipmentmanagement apparatus 200 has a manager 210, communicator 220, and acontroller 230.

The manager 210 includes a storage medium (media) such as a non-volatilememory or/and a HDD and manages information about the plurality offacilities 300. The manager 210 has a first Database (DB) 211, a secondDatabase (DB) 212, and a third Database (DB) 213.

The first DB 211 is an example of a first database storing firstinformation, which allows access of the gateway apparatus 330. The firstinformation includes guidance information about a handling method of theequipment. For example, the guidance information includes at least oneof an equipment name, installation information, inspection information,and use information as illustrated in FIG. 3 .

The equipment name is the name of the equipment 310. The equipment namemay be the information (for example, a product model number, amanufacturer code, etc.) which uniquely identifies the equipment 310 ormay be the information which indicates the type (for example, a solarbattery apparatus, an air-conditioning equipment, etc.) of the equipment310.

The installation information is the information required uponinstallation of the equipment 310 in the facility 300. For example, theinstallation information is the information indicating an installationprocedure of the equipment 310 and is information such as: “Connectcable xx to terminal oo” or “Turn ON power”. For example, theinstallation information may be used by an installation contractor ofthe equipment 310.

The inspection information is the information required upon inspectionof the equipment 310. For example, the inspection information is theinformation indicating an inspection procedure of the equipment 310 andis information such as: “Is cable xx connected to terminal oo?” or “Ispower lamp lighted?”. For example, the inspection information may beused by an inspection contractor of the equipment 310. The inspection ofthe equipment 310 may be inspection carried out after installation ofthe equipment 310 or may be inspection carried out as upkeep of theequipment 310.

The use information is the information required upon usage of theequipment 310. For example, the use information is the informationindicating a usage procedure of the equipment 310 and is informationsuch as: “Turn ON power” or “Press button oo”. The use information maybe the information indicating functions of the equipment 310 or may bethe information indicating troubleshooting of the equipment 310. The useinformation may be the information used by a user of the equipment 310.

In the embodiment, the first. DB 211 may store index information whichassociates the guidance information, the equipment information, and theuser information with one another as illustrated in FIG. 3 . The indexinformation includes a combination of arbitrary characters and numbersand is not required to have a meaning by itself.

The second DB 212 is an example of a second database storing secondinformation, which prohibits access of the gateway apparatus 330. Thesecond information includes equipment information about the equipment310. The equipment information is the information collected by the EMS320, which controls the equipment 310. For example, the equipmentinformation includes at least one of an equipment name, sensing data, anerror code, statistical data, reference data, and a operation history asillustrated in FIG. 4 .

The equipment name is the name of the equipment 310. The equipment namemay be the information (for example, a manufacturer code) which uniquelyidentifies the equipment 310 or may be the information which indicatesthe type (for example, a solar battery apparatus, an air-conditioningequipment, etc.) of the equipment 310.

The sensing data is the data including numerical data representing theworking state of the equipment 310. The sensing data is measured by asensor provided at the facility 300. Alternatively, the sensing data maybe measured by a sensor provided at the equipment 310 or may be measuredby a sensor provided at the EMS 320. The sensing data is transmittedfrom the EMS 320 to the equipment management apparatus 200. For example,the sensing data may be output power data of the equipment 310, powerconsumption data of the equipment 310, temperature data of the equipment310, environmental temperature data of the equipment 310, environmentalhumidity data of the equipment 310, or the like.

The error code is a code which identifies an error of the equipment 310.The error may be detected by the equipment 310 or may be detected by theEMS 320. The error code is transmitted from the EMS 320 to the equipmentmanagement apparatus 200. For example, the error code may be a codeindicating an abnormality in the temperature of the equipment 310, acode indicating an abnormality in a part provided in the equipment 310,a code indicating an abnormality in output power of the equipment 310, acode indicating an abnormality in power consumption of the equipment310.

The statistical data is the data obtained by statistical processing ofnumerical data. The statistical data may be generated by the equipmentmanagement apparatus 200. Alternatively, the statistical data may begenerated by the equipment 310 or may be generated by the EMS 320. Forexample, the statistical data may be numerical data grouped or sortedfor a particular purpose. The statistical data may be, for example, thedata indicating the transition (profile) of output power of theequipment 310 in a predetermined period (for example, 1 day, 1 week, or1 month) or the data indicating the transition of power consumption ofthe equipment 310 in a predetermined period.

The reference data is the data including a threshold value compared withthe numerical data. The reference data is a value set by a manufactureror the like of the equipment 310. The threshold value is a value usedfor determining the error of the equipment 310.

The operation history is the history about drive of the equipment 310.The operation history may be transitions of a drive mode in apredetermined period (for example, 1 day, 1 week, or 1 month), may bethe number of times of execution of a predetermined drive mode, or maybe the number of times driving of the equipment 310 stopped. Forexample, if the equipment 310 is a fuel cell apparatus, the operationhistory may be the number of times of normal stoppages of the fuel cellapparatus or may be the number of times of emergency stoppages of thefuel cell apparatus. If the equipment 310 is a storage batteryapparatus, the operation history may be the number of times of chargesof the storage battery apparatus, may be the charge time of the storagebattery apparatus, may be the number of times of discharges of thestorage battery apparatus, may be the discharge time of the storagebattery apparatus, or may be the number of charge/discharge cycles ofthe storage battery apparatus.

In the embodiment, the second DB 212 may store index information whichassociates the guidance information, the equipment information, and theuser information with one another as illustrated in FIG. 4 . The indexinformation includes a combination of arbitrary characters and numbersand is not required to have a meaning by itself.

The third DB 213 stores user information about users. The users may belegal persons or natural persons (individuals). For example, the userinformation includes at least one of the full names or names of theusers, the addresses of the users, and contact information (mailaddresses and phone numbers) of the users as illustrated in FIG. 5 . Theuser information is the information to be protected. Furthermore, theuser information may include at least one of contractor information andmaintenance information as illustrated in FIG. 5 .

The contractor information is the information about contractors whichconduct transactions with users. The contractor may be a contractorwhich carries out maintenance. The contractor may be a manufacturer ofthe equipment 310. The contractor may be a company such as a powergeneration company, a company for power transmission and distribution, aretail company, or a resource aggregator.

The maintenance information is the information about maintenance of theequipment 310. The maintenance information may be a maintenance historyor may be a maintenance schedule. The maintenance information may beaccumulated by the maintenance information transmitted from thecontractor terminal 400 or may be accumulated by the maintenanceinformation input by an operator. The maintenance information mayinclude the execution date of maintenance, the scheduled date ofmaintenance, and the contents of maintenance. As described above, themaintenance includes: for example, a checkup of examining thedeterioration state of the equipment, upkeep of carrying out simpleservices during the checkup, repair of fixing problems of the equipmentto recover the originally installed state of the functions andperformance of the equipment, and replacement of exchanging the existingequipment for a new equipment.

In the embodiment, the third DB 213 may store index information whichassociates the guidance information, the equipment information, and theuser information with one another as illustrated in FIG. 5 . The indexinformation includes a combination of arbitrary characters and numbersand is not required to have a meaning by itself.

The communicator 220 includes a communication module and communicateswith the facilities 300 and the contractor terminal 400 via the network120. For example, the communicator 220 receives the equipmentinformation such as sensing data and error codes from the EMS 320. Thecommunicator 220 receives the maintenance information from thecontractor terminal 400. The communicator 220 receives the analysisresults of the voice commands from the gateway apparatus 330.

The controller 230 includes, for example, a memory and a CPU andcontrols the configurations provided in the equipment managementapparatus 200. In the embodiment, the controller 230 carries out thecontrol shown below.

The controller 230 collects the equipment information from the EMS 320,which controls the equipment 310. The controller 230 may voluntarilycollect, the equipment information, which is transmitted from the EMS320, or may collect the equipment information, which is transmitted fromthe EMS 320, in response to requests to the EMS 320. As described above,the equipment information is stored in the second DB 212.

The controller 230 allows the EMS 320 to access the second DB 212. Onthe other hand, the controller 230 prohibits the EMS 320 from accessingthe third DB 213. In other words, the controller 230 is configured toprohibit the EMS 320 from accessing the third DB 213 even though the EMS320 is allowed to access the second DB 212.

Similarly, the controller 230 may allow the contractor terminal 400 toaccess the second DB 212. On the other hand, the controller 230 mayprohibit the contractor terminal 400 from accessing the third DB 213. Inother words, the controller 230 may be configured to prohibit thecontractor terminal 400 from accessing the third DB 213 even though thecontractor terminal 400 is allowed to access the second DB 212.

The controller 230 may provide the equipment information to a thirdparty. In such a case, the controller 230 deletes at least the indexinformation. According to such a configuration, the risk that the userinformation might be leaked to the third party can be reduced. The thirdparty is not particularly limited, but may be a company such as a powergeneration company, a company for power transmission and distribution, aretail company, or a resource aggregator.

The controller 230 allows the gateway apparatus 330 to access the firstDB 211. On the other hand, the controller 230 prohibits the gatewayapparatus 330 from accessing the second DB 212. In other words, thecontroller 230 is configured to prohibit the gateway apparatus 330 fromaccessing the second DB 212 even though the gateway apparatus 330 isallowed to access the first DB 211. Herein, the controller 230 may allowthe gateway apparatus 330 to access the third DB 213 or may prohibit thegateway apparatus 330 from accessing the third DB 213. If a user who isallowed to access the third DB 213 inputs an voice command to thegateway apparatus 330, the controller 230 may allow the gatewayapparatus 330 to access the third DB 213.

Herein, the user who inputs the voice command to the gateway apparatus330 is conceivably a user of the equipment 310. Therefore, the user whoinputs the voice command to the gateway apparatus 330 conceivably hasthe authority to access the second information (equipment information)stored in the second DB 212. For example, the user has the authority toaccess the second information via the EMS 320.

However, even if an access is based on a voice command derived from theuser who has the authority to access the second information, thecontroller 230 prohibits the gateway apparatus 330 from accessing thesecond DB 212. In other words, the controller 230 prohibits the gatewayapparatus 330 from accessing the second DB 212 while allowing the EMS320 to access the second DB 212.

(Gateway Apparatus)

Hereinafter, the gateway apparatus according to the embodiment will bedescribed. As illustrated in FIG. 6 , a gateway apparatus 330 includesan interface 331, a communicator 332, and a controller 333.

Interface 331 includes a voice input interface that receives voicecommands. Interface 331 may include a voice output interface.

The communicator 332 is configured by a communication module, andcommunicates with an equipment management apparatus 200 and an externalserver 500 via a network 120. For example, the communicator 332 receivesthe guidance information from the equipment management apparatus 200.The communicator 332 transmits information collected by the gatewayapparatus 330 to the external server 500.

The controller 333 includes a memory, a CPU, and the like, and controlseach component provided in the gateway apparatus 330. In the embodiment,the controller 333 performs the following control.

The controller 333 performs a registration process of registering aspeaker whose voice command is permitted to be received. For example,the controller 333 registers the speaker in a storage medium such as amemory. The controller 333 may register a main language, a dialect, orthe like spoken by the speaker in association with the speaker to beregistered. The controller 333 performs an authentication process ofrejecting the reception of the voice command when the speaker of thevoice command is not registered, and permitting the reception of thevoice command when the speaker of the voice command is registered. Thecontroller 333 performs an authentication process for each voicecommand. The controller 333 performs an authentication process bydetermining the voiceprint of the speaker. The voiceprint determinationis a process of determining whether the input voice matches theregistered voice.

Here, when the reception of the voice command is permitted, thecontroller 333 acquires the information (guidance information describedabove) corresponding to the voice command from an external databasewhile accessing the external database based on voice command. Theexternal database is the first. DB 211 described above.

First, the controller 333 performs a registration process and anauthentication process during the installation operation period of anequipment 310. For example, in such a case, the speaker registered inthe registration process is an installer. The controller 333 may cancelthe registration of the speaker by the registration process performedduring the installation operation period as a result of the expirationof the installation operation period. That is, the controller 333 mayreceive the voice of the installer during the installation operationperiod. During the installation operation period, the voice input forrequesting the next work item of the installation procedure and thevoice output of one work item of the installation procedure based on theinstallation information are repeated. Also, when the voice output of awork item with a relatively high importance is performed during theinstallation operation period, the voice output may be performed at avolume higher than a volume of the voice output of the work item havinga relatively low importance, or a plurality of voice outputs may beperformed. The voice input for requesting the next work item may be avoice input indicating that the previous work item has been completed.Thus, during the installation operation period, work items are checkedby the voice input and the voice output.

Second, the controller 333 performs a registration process and anauthentication process during the inspection period of the equipment310. For example, in such a case, the speaker registered in theregistration process is an inspector. The controller 333 may cancel theregistration of the speaker by the registration process performed duringthe inspection period as a result of the expiration of the installationoperation period. That is, during the inspection period, the controller333 may receive the voice of the inspector. During the inspectionperiod, the voice input for requesting the next inspection item of theinspection procedure and the voice output of one inspection item of theinspection procedure based on the inspection information are repeated.The voice input, for requesting the next inspection item may be a voiceinput of a reply (for example, YES or NO) to the previous inspectionitem. As described above, during the inspection period, the inspectionitems are checked by the voice input and the voice output.

The controller 333 performs a signature process based on an input of avoice of the speaker during the inspection period in such an inspectionperiod. The signature process is performed after the reply to the lastinspection item is input by voice. In other words, the controller 333expires the inspection period by the signature process.

Third, the controller 333 performs a registration process and anauthentication process during the use period of the equipment 310. Forexample, in such a case, the speaker registered in the registrationprocess is a user of the equipment 310. The controller 333 may cancelthe registration of the speaker by the registration process performedduring the inspection period when a predetermined period has elapsedsince the registration process was performed. During the use period, thevoice input for requesting the operation item of the use procedure andthe voice output of the operation item based on the use information areperformed.

The controller 333 may omit the authentication process for a certainperiod or a certain number of times when a voice command is received bythe authentication process during the use period. That is, thecontroller 333 may receive, for a certain period or for a certain numberof times, a voice command of a speaker who is not registered when thevoice command of the registered speaker is received.

(Voice Command Method)

Hereinafter, the voice command method according to the embodiment willbe described.

First, the installation operation period will be described withreference to FIG. 7. As illustrated in FIG. 7 , in step S11, aregistered voice is input to the gateway apparatus 330.

In step S12, the gateway apparatus 330 performs a registration processof registering a speaker whose voice command is permitted to bereceived.

In step S13A, the voice command requesting the next work item in theinstallation procedure is input to gateway apparatus 330. In step S14A,the gateway apparatus 330 performs an authentication process ofdetermining whether the speaker of the voice command is registered.Here, the description is continued assuming that the speaker of thevoice command is registered. In step S15A, the gateway apparatus 330accesses the first DB 211. In step S16A, the gateway apparatus 330receives the installation information from the first DB 211. The gatewayapparatus 330 outputs a work item based on the installation informationby voice. In step S17A, a voice indicating that the work item has beencompleted is input to the gateway apparatus 330.

As illustrated in steps S13X to S17X, such a process is repeated untilthe installation of the equipment 310 is completed. As described above,the voice input for requesting the next work item may be a voice inputindicating that the previous work item has been completed. That is, thevoice input in step S17A may also serve as the voice input in step S13X.

In step S18, a voice command indicating that installation of theequipment 310 is completed is input to the gateway apparatus 330. Instep S19, the gateway apparatus 330 performs an authentication processof determining whether the speaker of the voice command is registered.Here, the description is continued assuming that the speaker of thevoice command is registered. In step S20, the gateway apparatus 330cancels the registration of the speaker performed in step S12.

Second, the inspection period will be described with reference to FIG. 8. As illustrated in FIG. 8 , in step S31, a registered voice is input tothe gateway apparatus 330.

In step S32, the gateway apparatus 330 performs a registration processof registering a speaker whose voice command is permitted to bereceived.

In step S33A, a voice command requesting the next inspection item of theinspection procedure is input to the gateway apparatus 330. In stepS34A, the gateway apparatus 330 performs an authentication process ofdetermining whether the speaker of the voice command is registered.Here, the description is continued assuming that the speaker of thevoice command is registered. In step S35A, the gateway apparatus 330accesses the first DB 211. In step S36A, the gateway apparatus 330receives the inspection information from the first DB 211. The gatewayapparatus 330 outputs the inspection item based on the inspectioninformation by voice. In step S37A, the voice of the reply to theinspection item is input to the gateway apparatus 330.

As illustrated in steps S33X to S37X, such a process is repeated untilthe inspection of the equipment 310 is completed. As described above,the voice input for requesting the next inspection item may be a voiceinput of a reply to the previous inspection item. That is, the voiceinput in step S17A may also serve as the voice input in step S13X.

In step S38, a voice command indicating that the inspection of theequipment 310 is completed is input to the gateway apparatus 330. Instep S39, the gateway apparatus 330 performs an authentication processof determining whether the speaker of the voice command is registered.Here, the description is continued assuming that the speaker of thevoice command is registered. In step S40, the gateway apparatus 330performs a signature process based on an input of a voice of thespeaker. In step S41, the gateway apparatus 330 cancels the registrationof the speaker performed in step S32.

Third, the use period will be described with reference to FIG. 8 . Asillustrated in FIG. 9 , in step S51, a registered voice is input to thegateway apparatus 330.

In step S52, the gateway apparatus 330 performs a registration processof registering a speaker whose voice command is permitted to bereceived.

In step S53, a voice command requesting an operation item of the useprocedure is input to the gateway apparatus 330. In step S54, thegateway apparatus 330 performs an authentication process of determiningwhether the speaker of the voice command is registered. Here, thedescription is continued assuming that the speaker of the voice commandis registered. In step S55, the gateway apparatus 330 accesses the firstDB 211. In step S56, the gateway apparatus 330 receives the useinformation from the first DB 211. The gateway apparatus 330 outputsoperation items based on the use information by voice.

In step S57, a voice command for the equipment 310 is input to thegateway apparatus 330 based on the operation item. In step S58, thegateway apparatus 330 performs an authentication process of determiningwhether the speaker of the voice command is registered. Here, thedescription is continued assuming that the speaker of the voice commandis registered. In step S59, the gateway apparatus 330 transmits acontrol command based on the voice command to the EMS 320.

(Function and Effect)

In the embodiment, the gateway apparatus 330 performs an authenticationprocess for each voice command. According to such a configuration, asituation in which voice commands of a plurality of speakers presentnear the gateway apparatus 330 are received is suppressed, and it maynot be possible to properly support the installation, the inspection,the use, and the like of the equipment 310.

In the embodiment, the equipment management apparatus 200 is configuredto prohibit the gateway apparatus 330 from accessing the second DB 212.According to such a configuration, since the gateway apparatus 200,which may transmit various information to the external server 500, isprohibited from accessing the second DB 212, the risk that the secondinformation belonging to the know-how of the entity, which runs theequipment management apparatus 200, might be leaked to another entitycan be reduced.

In the embodiment, the equipment management apparatus 200 is configuredto allow the gateway apparatus 330 to access the first DB 211. Accordingto such a configuration, since part of the information stored in theequipment management apparatus 200 is provided, the convenience of usersis improved.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

The present invention has been described by the above describedembodiment. However, the discussions and drawings forming part of thisdisclosure should not be construed to limit the present, invention.According to this disclosure, various alternative embodiments, examples,and running techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Although not specifically mentioned in the embodiment, the voice inputof a password registered in advance to the gateway apparatus 330 may berequested to start the registration process. In the registrationprocess, two or more speakers may be registered. When two or more voicecommands are input within a predetermined time, in the case where aplurality of speakers is registered, the gateway apparatus 3330 mayreceive a voice command with the highest volume. The gateway apparatus330 need not receive a voice command with a volume lower than thepredetermined volume.

As described in the embodiment, the gateway apparatus 330 may omit theauthentication process for a certain period or a certain number of timeswhen a voice command is received by the authentication process in theuse period. In such a case, the certain period or the certain number oftimes may be determined according to the importance of the voicecommand. Further, the gateway apparatus 330 may perform theauthentication process for each voice command without omitting theauthentication process for a specific voice command (a voice commandhaving a high importance).

Although not specifically mentioned in the embodiment, the gatewayapparatus 330 may cancel the registration of the speaker by remotecontrol in preparation for theft of the gateway apparatus 330 or thelike.

In the embodiment, the first DB 211, the second DB 212, and the third DB213 are physically different databases. However, embodiments are notlimited thereto. The first DB 211, the second DB 212, and the third DB213 may be formed by one database and virtually separated from oneanother by setting access authorities.

In the embodiment, the first DB 211, the second DB 212, and the third DB213 are provided in the equipment management apparatus 200. However,embodiments are not limited thereto. At least any one of the first DB211, the second DB 212, and the third DB 213 may be provided in a serverconnected to the equipment management apparatus 200 via the network 120.

Although it is not particularly mentioned in the embodiment, thefunctions of the equipment management apparatus 200 may be provided by acloud service.

In the embodiment, the access controller, which prohibits the gatewayapparatus 330 from accessing the second DB 212, is provided in theequipment management apparatus 200. However, embodiments are not limitedthereto. The access controller, which prohibits the gateway apparatus330 from accessing the second information, may be provided in thegateway apparatus 330. In other words, the gateway apparatus 330 mayautonomously prohibit itself from accessing the second DB 212.

In the embodiment, a control apparatus which controls the equipment 310is the EMS 320. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. Thecontrol apparatus may be the equipment 310 per se. The control apparatusmay be a remote controller, which transmits control commands to theequipment 310.

It is not particularly mentioned in the embodiment, the equipmentmanagement apparatus 200 (controller 230) may set, for each entity whichaccesses the equipment information, the access authority of informationelements included in the equipment information. For example, theequipment management apparatus 200 may allow the EMS 320 to access thesensing data and prohibit the contractor terminal 400 from accessing thesensing data. Alternatively, the equipment management apparatus 200 mayallow the contractor terminal 400 to access the operation history andprohibit the EMS 320 from accessing the statistical data.

In the embodiment, the entities which access the equipment informationare the EMS 320 and the contractor terminal 400. However, embodimentsare not limited thereto. The entity may be a user terminal belonging toa user of the equipment 310. In such a case, the equipment managementapparatus 200 may allow the user terminal to access the operationhistory and prohibit the user terminal from accessing the sensing data.

Although it is not particularly mentioned in the embodiment, theequipment information may include basic information such as installationdate, predetermined durable years, and rated power consumption.

Although not specifically mentioned in the embodiment, at least part ofthe processing performed by the gateway apparatus 330 (controller 333)described above may be performed by the EMS 320 (controller included inthe EMS 320) or the equipment management apparatus 200 (controller 230).For example, the above-described registration process and authenticationprocess performed by the gateway apparatus 330 (controller 333) areperformed by the EMS 320 (controller included in the EMS 320) or theequipment management apparatus 200 (controller 221). The EMS 320(controller included in EMS 320) or the equipment management apparatus200 (controller 221) acquires necessary information about the voice ofthe speaker from gateway apparatus 330, and may perform a registrationprocess and an authentication process based on the information.

Note that the entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No.2017-188264 filed on Sep. 28, 2017 are incorporated by reference herein.

1. A voice command system comprising: a gateway apparatus including aninterface configured to receive a voice command; and a controllerconfigured to perform a registration process of registering a speakerwhose voice command is permitted to be received, wherein the controlleris configured to perform an authentication process of rejecting areception of the voice command when a speaker of the voice command isnot registered, and permitting a reception of the voice command when aspeaker of the voice command is registered, the controller is configuredto perform the authentication process for each the voice command, thecontroller is configured to perform the registration process and theauthentication process during an installation operation period of anequipment, and the installation operation period of the equipment is aperiod that installation of the equipment is performed.
 2. The voicecommand system according to claim 1, wherein the gateway apparatus hasthe controller.
 3. The voice command system according to claim 1,wherein the controller is configured to access an external databasebased on the voice command when the reception of the voice command ispermitted, and acquire, from the external database, informationcorresponding to the voice command.
 4. The voice command systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to cancel,with an expiration of the installation operation period, registration ofa speaker performed by the registration process in the installationoperation period.
 5. A voice command system comprising: a gatewayapparatus including an interface configured to receive a voice command;and a controller configured to perform a registration process ofregistering a speaker whose voice command is permitted to be received,wherein the controller is configured to perform an authenticationprocess of rejecting a reception of the voice command when a speaker ofthe voice command is not registered, and permitting a reception of thevoice command when a speaker of the voice command is registered, thecontroller is configured to perform the authentication process for eachthe voice command, the controller is configured to perform theregistration process and the authentication process during an inspectionperiod of an equipment, and the inspection period of the equipment is aperiod that the equipment is inspected after installation of theequipment.
 6. The voice command system according to claim 5, wherein thecontroller is configured to cancel, with an expiration of the inspectionperiod, registration of a speaker performed by the registration processin the inspection period.
 7. The voice command system according to claim5, wherein the controller is configured to perform a signature processbased on a voice input of a speaker during the inspection period.
 8. Thevoice command system according to claim 7, wherein the controller isconfigured to expire the inspection period by the signature process. 9.A voice command system comprising: a gateway apparatus including aninterface configured to receive a voice command; and a controllerconfigured to perform a registration process of registering a speakerwhose voice command is permitted to be received, wherein the controlleris configured to perform an authentication process of rejecting areception of the voice command when a speaker of the voice command isnot registered, and permitting a reception of the voice command when aspeaker of the voice command is registered, the controller is configuredto perform the authentication process for each the voice command, thecontroller is configured to perform the registration process and theauthentication process during a use period of an equipment, and thevoice command includes a voice command requesting an operation item of ause procedure and a voice command for the equipment based on theoperation item.
 10. The voice command system according to claim 1,wherein the controller is configured to perform the authenticationprocess by determining a voiceprint of a speaker.
 11. The voice commandsystem according to claim 3, further comprising: a first databaseconfigured to store first information permitted access from the gatewayapparatus; a second database configured to store second informationprohibited access from the gateway apparatus; and an access controllerconfigured to permit access to the first database from the gatewayapparatus and prohibit access to the second database from the gatewayapparatus, wherein the external database is the first database, and thesecond information includes equipment information collected from acontrol apparatus that controls the equipment.
 12. The voice commandsystem according to claim 11, wherein the first database and the seconddatabase are physically different databases.
 13. The voice commandsystem according to claim 11, wherein the equipment information includesat least one of: sensing data including numerical data representing anoperation state of the equipment; an error code identifying an error ofthe equipment; statistical data obtained by statistical processing ofthe numerical data: reference data including a threshold value comparedwith the numerical data; and an operation history of the equipment. 14.A voice command method comprising: receiving a voice command; performinga registration process of registering a speaker whose voice command ispermitted to be received; and performing an authentication process ofrejecting a reception of the voice command when a speaker of the voicecommand is not registered, and permitting a reception of the voicecommand when a speaker of the voice command is registered, wherein theauthentication process is performed for each the voice command, theregistration process and the authentication process are performed duringan installation operation period of an equipment, and the installationoperation period of the equipment is a period that installation of theequipment is performed.
 15. A voice command method comprising: receivinga voice command; performing a registration process of registering aspeaker whose voice command is permitted to be received; and performingan authentication process of rejecting a reception of the voice commandwhen a speaker of the voice command is not registered, and permitting areception of the voice command when a speaker of the voice command isregistered, wherein the authentication process is performed for each thevoice command, the registration process and the authentication processare performed during an inspection period of an equipment, and theinspection period of the equipment is a period that the equipment isinspected after installation of the equipment.
 16. A voice commandmethod comprising: receiving a voice command; performing a registrationprocess of registering a speaker whose voice command is permitted to bereceived; and performing an authentication process of rejecting areception of the voice command when a speaker of the voice command isnot registered, and permitting a reception of the voice command when aspeaker of the voice command is registered, wherein the authenticationprocess is performed for each the voice command, the registrationprocess and the authentication process are performed during a use periodof an equipment, and the voice command includes a voice commandrequesting an operation item of a use procedure and a voice command forthe equipment based on the operation item.